Follow-up to my last post. On Fri, 9/30, I wrote briefly in the Afterword of Book 4 that after 10 years since my dad and I broke all contact, I knew that if I ever saw him again, I'd try to give him a big hug. Then Weds, 10/5, I got a call out of the blue from a social worker who tracked me down with some internet wizardry, telling me my dad was in the ICU "drifting in and out of coherence," and they were looking for next of kin.

The extremely limited details I could get when I called the ICU Weds and Thurs made his situation sound grim, but I was grateful to hear that he understood when his nurse relayed my message that I love him, the whole Murray family loves him, and I'd gladly hurry down there to give him a hug.

Fortunately, today I called the ICU again, and they said he'd been "discharged." When I asked if that could mean he'd simply been moved to another part of the hospital, they said yes, and I was able to get the hospital operator to help me track him to another floor, where his health is improving.

I got to have a phone conversation with my dad after ten years (the last few of which, no one in the family knew where he was). Turns out he and I both have had a great many health struggles to fight through. We spoke for a half hour, and it was like talking to him when we were on decent terms over a decade ago. It was a joy I didn't think I'd get to have, telling him directly that I love him (as clearly as my heavy voice could get it out). He and I agreed we're going to get that big hug in--probably several of them--and I intend to make this the start of the most positive connection he and I can have.

Today is a day worth celebrating on many levels, and I think I'll look happily on it for a long time.